Special envoy to Guinea-Bissau hopes to bring about democratic reforms

Newly-appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste is due in New York next week for briefings from the Secretary-General, the UN Security Council and top UN officials.

Asked about his priorities, the former President, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste says it must be borne in mind that there are resolutions of the UN Security Council dealing with the various aspects of the problem.

“At the same time, I know I will have the authority, the flexibility to explore ideas, new initiatives, to fulfil the mandate given by the Secretary-General and by the Security Council and that these essentially to bring about the democratic reforms, reforms of the security forces, guaranteeing the peace and stability and irreversibility of the democratic process in Guinea-Bissau, respect for human rights, rule of law etc.”

Special Representative Ramos-Horta says the situation in Guinea-Bissau is not as complex as in Libya, Syria, Somalia or Congo because there is no war going on in Guinea Bissau.